Thoughts invited about visiting the river Alde, please.

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NealB

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We've been invited to a wedding at Saxmundham on 18th August.

I've been looking at the charts and pilots, and wonder how viable it would be to leave the boat somewhere on the Alde, and then take a taxi?

Of course, we will need to be looking, and smelling, reasonably presentable, and we need a robust, reliable plan (I'll be in deep ess aitch one tee if we miss this one).

Snape looks a possibility, but I guess it's pot luck as to whether there'll be space for us (twin keel Westerly Falcon 35).

What about anchoring at Iken? Is there a good clean landing, with somewhere to leave the dinghy? Hmmm ... we'll also need to shower and change.

All advice, and suggestions, gratefully accepted.
 
sailorman said:
Lady Sm got her wellies stuck in the mud & fell backwards :encouragement:
Click to expand...

Joscelyn did something rather similar, about 30 years ago, wearing a lovely cashmere jumper, whilst attempting to walk ashore, across the mud at Leigh on Sea.

Oh, how we laughed (eventually).
 
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NealB said:
We've been invited to a wedding at Saxmundham on 18th August.

I've been looking at the charts and pilots, and wonder how viable it would be to leave the boat somewhere on the Alde, and then take a taxi?

Of course, we will need to be looking, and smelling, reasonably presentable, and we need a robust, reliable plan (I'll be in deep ess aitch one tee if we miss this one).

Snape looks a possibility, but I guess it's pot luck as to whether there'll be space for us (twin keel Westerly Falcon 35).

What about anchoring at Iken? Is there a good clean landing, with somewhere to leave the dinghy? Hmmm ... we'll also need to shower and change.

All advice, and suggestions, gratefully accepted.
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There is a huge old Dutch style Barge turned up at Snape Quay, apparently being rented out for holiday makers. Consequently I would think they have ripped out many of the withies on the way up and you will find it very tricky, even with a chart plotter, to get past Iken Church. Also it appears to be tight to moor on the quay, it is suggested to tie to the old trip boat mooring, where the wooden landing is.
My suggestion would be to pick up a visitors mooring (£5) at Aldeburgh (or anchor, both close to Martello Tower) and use the very easy access to Aldeburgh Yacht Club facilities. There are new showers, toilets and lockers. There is a very pleasant new bar and galley (check times on website). Call the Secretary David if you need to make enquiries 01728 452562.
As a visiting yachtsman you can make use of the launch service, free of charge, over the weekend. High Water Slaughden 18:45 on 18th.
A taxi would need to be arranged well in advance as there are only a few people operating in these parts. I could recommend New Penny Taxis, purely because he is local. Don't have Davids number to hand. PM me if you want any local cab numbers.
I very rarely need to use them, think it costs about £12 to Sax.
Iken is far from sensible, you have a shallow muddy approach to the beach and then a rustic walk (uphill) to a rural lane. Lovely place but not in high heels?
Orford is also an option if you don't want the extra hour up to Aldeburgh. Moorings are available, about £15 a day I think. It is a few miles more to Saxmundham and cabs are expensive around here.
Hope that helps, Malcolm

Oh, I guess its important to add that Sunday 19th is reception day for Aldeburgh Regatta so will be busy (ish).
Monday 20th is Carnival Day in Town when a few thousand people turn up for fun and frolics etcetc. Tuesday is Orford Day when all manner of boats sail down to Orford and raft across the river, the attempt to sail back. So river could be a little busy at that time, but its all relative, busy around here means you can see a few boats moving.
 
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I would agree with the earlier post that the marina at Woodbridge is a good bet then a Taxi. The showers at Woodbridge are very nice and proper pontoons. Roughing it for a wedding does not seem right I feel
 
"There is a huge old Dutch style Barge turned up at Snape Quay, apparently being rented out for holiday makers. Consequently I would think they have ripped out many of the withies on the way up and you will find it very tricky, even with a chart plotter, to get past Iken Church. Also it appears to be tight to moor on the quay, it is suggested to tie to the old trip boat mooring, where the wooden landing is."
Read more at http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthrea...ing-the-river-Alde-please#dDQLwCrcbtJMtPz0.99

Totally agree about abovementioned holiday-business barge. She is the 95ft Onderneming and she came round from Pin Mill (where she was in breach of planning regs) a couple of weeks ago.

There is a space left between her and the SB Cygnet but the only remaining quayside ladder is not very accessible. The trip boat landing stage is in a derelict state, so alongside options are very limited.

Sadly, of all the Suffolk rivers to attend a wedding from, the Alde is probably the least practical...

However, it might help you to know that Woodbridge (Tide Mill Yacht Harbour) is connected to Saxmundham by train.
 
NealB said:
Thanks.

That does does like a reliable plan.

Shame the last return train is 2157 (these people like to party), so it'll be a cab back anyway.
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Taxi: M&R Cabs, Woodbridge station forecourt, 01394 386661

The people at the Tide Mil YH are a good bunch, and haven't changed over twenty years, although the marina has improved..

http://www.tidemillyachtharbour.co.uk/
 
Hi,
Used M&R cabs myself from Woodbridge to Ipswich only £12 and he turned up in a minibus helped me load my dinghy and stuff both ways. Good chaps.

Col.
 
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